Côte d’Ivoire’s customs administration has abolished the requirement for visas from the customs representations of Mali and Burkina Faso on export declarations, marking a procedural shift aimed at improving trade efficiency and transit fluidity across West Africa.
The measure, formalised under Circular No. 239/MEFB/DGD dated 31 March 2026, removes a long-standing administrative step that had been in place under earlier regulatory instruments governing trade between Côte d’Ivoire and its hinterland partners.
Historically, export declarations covering goods destined for Mali and Burkina Faso required validation by the respective countries’ customs representatives based in Côte d’Ivoire. This visa process was a condition for admissibility and served as a control mechanism to support the monitoring of customs procedures and the compilation of trade statistics between Côte d’Ivoire and these two countries.
The removal of this requirement reflects the operationalisation of more advanced, digitalised transit management systems across the corridor. Côte d’Ivoire and Mali are now connected through the T1 Transit Management IT Module, while trade with Burkina Faso is supported by the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT). These platforms enable the secure, continuous and transparent exchange of data related to goods in transit, reducing reliance on manual validation processes.
Within this context, the customs administration has determined that the legacy visa requirement is no longer necessary. The updated procedure is intended to accelerate the processing of export and re-export operations while maintaining oversight through digital systems.
Under the new framework, licensed customs brokers may submit detailed declarations directly to the competent customs offices without prior endorsement from foreign customs representations. The change is expected to reduce administrative delays at origin points and improve the overall efficiency of cargo movement along key regional corridors linking Côte d’Ivoire with Mali and Burkina Faso.
The circular entered into force on the date of signature, with customs authorities calling for strict compliance and immediate reporting of any implementation challenges.
The reform aligns with broader regional objectives under the TRIE Convention to facilitate trade, enhance corridor performance, and strengthen economic integration between coastal and landlocked economies in West Africa.
